vein-a narrow channel or slab of mineral that is much different from the surrounding rock solution- a mixture in which one substance dissolves in another
Outline
Processes That Form Minerals
minerals can form in two ways
the two ways are: crystallization of melted materials or materials dissolved in water
crystallization is what makes a crystal
Minerals From Magma
some minerals form when magma cools down inside the Earth's crust
also forms when lava hardens on the surface of the crust
when it cools down, it forms a crystal
Minerals From Hot Water Solutions
elements that form crystals sometimes get dissolved in hot water
they form solutions
elements and compounds leave the solution and form crystals when the heated solution cools down
veins are formed when pure metals crystallize underground from heated solutions
many minerals form along the mid-ocean ridge
Minerals Formed by Evaporation
one way to form crystals (by evaporation) is by mixing salt and water together and then letting it evaporate
they then form crystals that are in the shape of squares
Table of Contents
Section 4.2- How Minerals Form (back to homepage)
Vocabulary
vein-a narrow channel or slab of mineral that is much different from the surrounding rock
solution- a mixture in which one substance dissolves in another
Outline
Diagram